Health and fitness briefs

A bovine prosthetic valve is mounted inside a stent and positioned inside the heart via catheter through the femoral artery in the leg or through a small incision in the side of the chest, according to an Integris news release. The method is much less invasive and dangerous than open-heart surgery.

The method was used on the first local Integris patient in May 2012. The 91-year-old man spent three days in the hospital and never required pain medication, the release states. Once weak and short of breath, now he rides an exercise bike for an hour three days a week.

“The consequences of not treating aortic stenosis are dire,” Dr. Jeffrey Sparling, an Integris cardiologist, said in the release. “The average survival of patients who are experiencing symptoms and do not receive treatment is only two years, and the five-year survival rate is less than 20 percent.”

Patients may not realize they have the heart condition, instead blaming their symptoms on simple aging.

For more information about the procedure, call 596-2771.

Lace up your children's running shoes and get ready for fun on the banks of the Oklahoma River. The 2013 Princess Run and Little Dude Dash is almost here.

For the fourth annual event, the Oklahoma City Boathouse District again will be turned into a “magical” village for the run and children's festival, according to a news release.

“The Princess Run is a frolicking, whimsical 1.2 mile run/walk/stroll event designed to delight girls 12 and under while encouraging a healthy and happy lifestyle,” the release states. “The Little Dude Dash is a ‘wicked cool' 1.2 mile run/walk for boys.”

The festival will be from 1 to 5 p.m. April 14. All of the Boathouse District venues will be open for tours and youth activities sponsored by OKC Riversport.

The girls' run begins at 2 p.m.; the boys' event is at 3:15 p.m. The runs will take place on the Oklahoma River trails. A full schedule and map are not yet available.

The festival is free and open to the public, but runners will be charged a registration fee of $23.75. To register, go to www.princessrun.com. A limited number of spots are available.